Dual hydrogen production from electrocatalytic water reduction coupled with formaldehyde oxidation via a copper-silver electrocatalyst

Abstract The broad employment of water electrolysis for hydrogen (H 2 ) production is restricted by its large voltage requirement and low energy conversion efficiency because of the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, we report a strategy to replace OER with a thermodynamically more favorable reaction, the partial oxidation of formaldehyde to formate under alkaline conditions, using a Cu 3 Ag 7 electrocatalyst. Such a strategy not only produces more valuable anodic product than O 2 but also releases H 2 at the anode with a small voltage input. Density functional theory studies indicate the H 2 C(OH)O intermediate from formaldehyde hydration can be better stabilized on Cu 3 Ag 7 than on Cu or Ag,…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: 2102220, CHE-2102220, 1914546, CHE-1914546, 2102191
• HF
  Herman Frasch Foundation for Chemical Research

  Award: 820-HF17
• DO
  Division of Chemistry

  Awards: CHE-2102220, CHE-1914546